The World Beyond BetterMost => The Culture Tent => Topic started by: southendmd on July 27, 2014, 11:09:29 pm

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: southendmd on July 27, 2014, 11:20:01 pm

Perhaps you've heard of this unusual film. Richard Linklater is the guy who did "Dazed and Confused", and the "Before....Sunrise, Sunset and Midnight" films (the three "Before" films are separated by about 10 years with the same actors). This one was shot annually with the same cast over a period of 12 years, so we see them age before our eyes. No different actors playing different ages, no makeup effects.

I'm reminded of the British "Up" series, the documentary that films the same group of people every 7 years, since they were 7 years old.

I just got back from seeing this amazing film. I'm still thinking about it.

Do yourself a favor, and go see it. See it without reading much about it. See it without looking at photos; it pays not to be spoiled. You want to see how they all turn out. The little boy in the poster (who looks like he could be Scarlett Johansson's little brother) metamorphoses into a young man. Yet, it's not just about "boyhood". It's equally about parenthood, siblinghood, adulthood. Apparently, the original title was "12 Years", but was changed to prevent any confusion with "12 Years a Slave".

The audience actually applauded at the end. How often does that happen any more?

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: Penthesilea on July 28, 2014, 03:31:50 am

Thanks for the rec. Sounds really interesting. :) Over here it started to run in theaters in June already and is about to taper out. Near me it plays only today and tomorrow, not the whole week. Maybe I can catch it.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: Front-Ranger on July 28, 2014, 08:55:43 am

Boyhood is on my radar and I'm currently watching Before Sunrise. I heard a good interview by Terry Gross with Richard Linklater.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: milomorris on July 28, 2014, 09:40:35 am

Boyhood is on my radar and I'm currently watching Before Sunrise. I heard a good interview by Terry Gross with Richard Linklater.

I heard the Gross/Linklater interview too. I'm very curious about this movie.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: oilgun on July 28, 2014, 10:16:28 am

I really enjoyed it. I got invested in the characters and wish I could follow them for another 12 years.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: morrobay on July 28, 2014, 12:26:28 pm

This was on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday

CBS News/July 27, 2014, 10:23 AM

Filmmaker ​Richard Linklater on "Boyhood" and time

The film follows a boy, Mason (played by Ellar Coltrane) from age six to 18. He literally grows up before your very eyes.

His sister is played by Lorelei Linklater, the director's daughter; their divorced parents, by Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke.

What's remarkable about "Boyhood" is that it was shot over twelve years. Time (and how it changes people) is the subject.

"What Rick is doing with this movie has been done in literature a lot," said Hawke, "But it hasn't really been done in a movie, and you get the chance to really watch a family develop over the course of a decade, and it's a powerful tool."

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: CellarDweller on July 28, 2014, 04:39:19 pm

sounds interesting.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: gattaca on September 07, 2014, 09:52:31 am

I ABSOLUTELY loved this film! I also recommend seeing it without reading a lot about it, but do pay attention to the changes in tempo, music, ... I went, having read only 1 or 2 reviews, which were glowing. BUT after seeing the film in an 80 year old theater in Boston, it really caught me off guard as it hit damn close to home! The ending last couple of tunes are just perfectly set for the cinematography.

The last film to have this effect on me was BBM. Swift kick to the gut...

Even now 2+ weeks later, "Boyhood" still lingers in my head. Just thinking about the last 15 minutes gives me chills, while even writing this.

"Boyhood" is slowly slipping from theaters, so if you want to catch it on the big screen, best get a move on it. It's worth the admission.

From Ebert's site -> http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/boyhood-2014

However, if you do miss it, then rent it. Cheers, V.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: Penthesilea on February 05, 2015, 02:00:18 pm

I finally watched this movie on the plane. A nine hour flight is a good time to watch an almost three hour movie.

I liked it; it was beautifully made and I loved that it was so very different from most other movies. It's calm, quasi the opposite from sensation-seeking and hyped up. A loving and realistic portrait of a boy, rather whole family, growing up, growing apart, growing together and ever changing.

My only beef with it is that it was a tad too long for my taste.

And I'm wondering whether I missed something towards the end at reading these comments:

Those comments are puzzling because I don't remember anything "chilling" at the end of the film. ???

The whole movie really but the the last 15 mins and the accompanying music scores with these sections...

the conversation between Mason and his Mom, shortly before he drives away...

the long drive with the roadage shots on his way and the music he's listening to...

stopping to purchase gas and having an eye to take those photographs of such "ordinary things..."

the road trip, with Mason, his roommate and two other people he just met... into the huge, vast canyon

The "seize the moment" vs. "the moment seizes us" conversation between Mason and the young lady he just met... draped by the vast canyon setting...

rewatch those if you can and really consider Mason's "goodbye" conversation w/ his mom and her reactions..

...now lather on top that when I saw the film, I was in Boston at an old theater with my son. We were literally on the edge of that very moment, with just a few weeks before he was heading to college..

yeah, it hit very close to home, kicked me hard and then once I started paralleling some BBM elements in there, it was game over for me. Hell it's kicking me just thinking about writing this post. But I guess it may be more of you had to really "be there" in my case. Peace. V.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: southendmd on February 06, 2015, 08:32:06 am

Thanks for elaborating, Vincent.

While I found the ending very beautiful, I can see that your experience sure would make it even more moving: as "boyhood" turns into "adulthood".

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: CellarDweller on February 06, 2015, 09:28:23 am

It's interesting reading this thread, as I haven't seen the movie, but have a number of friends who did, who found it boring.

My supervisor at my job is a huge movie fan, and makes a point of seeing all the best picture nominated films each year. Her comment was:

"It was way too long, I couldn't get involved or attached to any of the characters, and in the end just didn't care what happened to any of them. For the life of me, I can't understand why this film is even nominated for any awards."

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: southendmd on February 06, 2015, 11:38:04 am

It's interesting reading this thread, as I haven't seen the movie, but have a number of friends who did, who found it boring.

My supervisor at my job is a huge movie fan, and makes a point of seeing all the best picture nominated films each year. Her comment was:

"It was way too long, I couldn't get involved or attached to any of the characters, and in the end just didn't care what happened to any of them. For the life of me, I can't understand why this film is even nominated for any awards."

Different strokes...

People said the exact same thing about BBM back in the day.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: Monika on February 06, 2015, 01:39:24 pm

Sadly I have to join "team bored". I find the way it was made interesting, but the storyline...huh? I was glancing at my watch, waiting for...something.A cool idea is not enough to make a good movie. I rather have a movie that was made in fifteen minutes flat with an interesting story line. ;DItīs more brains than heart in this movie.

As for the Oscars, my favorite is probably The Imitation Game (Benedict Cumberbitch, long overdue fame for Alan Turing) . I also enjoyed Selma (high production values, good actors and lots of heart) and Whiplash (J.K Simmons!). Birdman was OK (too little Birdman), American Sniper...just no . The Theory of Everything had a bit too much of the "made to please the Oscars jury" wibe for my taste.

On the whole though...a slightly underwhelming race this year. I donīt "love" any of them. I miss movies like Brokeback, The Piano and Amadeus....god I feel old. lol.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: CellarDweller on February 06, 2015, 03:44:15 pm

I loved Boyhood.The thing is - there is no storyline.It's just like life itself, things just happen. Sometimes there is a connection to something that happened earlier, sometimes there isn't. Everyday family life, little things that make up a day, a week, a year. People grow, mature, get older. Life itself.I saw it last summer, I'd like to see it again if I get a chance.

Yeap. No loud explosions. No special effects. No aliens or super heros. Just a portrait of the things we do daily to survive, grow, change... and just be. Mason's taking those photos at the end was very important...

Nope. It's not everyone's cup of tea... Either you "get it" or you do not.. No harm, no foul. Just like many people did not "get" BBM, but it kicked some of us hard, Boyhood did this to me again.

Many elements here remind me of the similar struggle between Jack and Ennis over those decades - just to seize the moments, or have them seize you, to dare to dream, to dare to love, to dare to have that "cow and calf operation...", to dare to follow thru on a commitment (Jack's ashes), .......... V.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: Monika on February 07, 2015, 09:48:42 am

Well, "life itself" doesn't often get shown on film. Plus, it's still fiction. Maybe not uber-exciting, but it still feels real. And that's rare especially with Oscar nominations.

I am also looking for things that feels "real", but it's more about the emotions than whether the film portrays something that could be real, for example a connection and bond between to characters in a movie set in space can feel more genuine than a relationship between two characters in a story set in present time.

Like you said, it is all fiction and the reality in Boyhood is really as true as the world of The Avengers.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, however, and I hope it does well in the Oscars race.

Title: Re: "Boyhood" Richard Linklater's film 12 years in the making
Post by: serious crayons on February 07, 2015, 01:32:36 pm

I think in fact Richard Linklater sort of teases you -- he sets up situations that look like they're going to lead somewhere dramatic -- and in any other movie, they would. The scene where the older camping boys are harassing the younger ones. Or the scene where the kid meets a girl on a bike and they walk along together talking. You think you know what's coming in both cases based on what you're trained to expect from more conventional plots. It doesn't happen that way, though, because this is more like "real life."